The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Friday, August 22, 2008

August 22, 2008

Top News
Human Rights Defender
因输血染艾滋的上访人士王小巧被判刑 (AIDS Activist Wang Xiaoqiao Sentenced to One Year in Prison on Extortion Charges)
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/wangxiaoqiao-08212008090033.html

Wang Xiaoqiao (王小巧), a Henan-based AIDS activist, was sentenced to one year in prison on August 20. She was charged with extortion on the basis of a private agreement for 4800 yuan compensation between the owner of a polluting brick kiln near her farm. Wang's lawyer, Chang (常), has already raised an appeal and states that he believes the basis of the case to be a civil infringement, not criminal. In 1996, Wang's husband contracted HIV through a tainted blood infusion; he did not learn that he was infected for seven years. Wang was detained by police while was petitioning in Zhengzhou, Henan on November 27, 2007, shortly before World AIDS Day (December 1).


News
Corruption
Officials' Overseas Trips to Face Tighter Scrutiny
China Daily, August 22, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-08/22/content_6959423.htm

Disasters
Earthquake Kills 3 in Yunnan
Shanghai Daily, August 22, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=371153

Labor
浙江塌鐵路橋2死2傷 (2 Workers Dead, Another Two Injured in Zhejiang Railway Collapse)
Ming Pao, August 22, 2008
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080822/cag1.htm

Media
Olympics No Fast Track to Media Freedom in China
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, August 21, 2008
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200808/s2342221.htm

《维权中国》网再因刊登敏感文章而遭无限期通知关闭 ("Human Rights China" [www.315wqchina.com] Site Again Closed Indefinitely for Publishing "Sensitive" Article)
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/wang-08212008090349.html

Migrant Workers
中国每年有一千万人口从农村转移到城市 (10 Million People Move from Countryside to Cities in China Each Year)
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/labor-08212008110449.html

Olympics
Olympic Probe over Gymnasts' Ages
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 22, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/gymnastics/7575929.stm

Experts Debate Legacy of Beijing Olympics
Voice of America, August 21, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-08-21-voa36.cfm

Games Not a Winner for Hotels, Tourism
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=68fb405b795eb110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Protests and Petitions
Chinese Police Sentence 6 Foreigners to 10 Days Detention
Voice of America, August 21, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-08-21-voa65.cfm

HK Business Group Detained after Rally
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=27ade60f136eb110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Petitioners Struggle to Stay out of Sight after Going to Beijing to Be Heard
Globe and Mail, August 21, 2008
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080821.wolympetitioners21/BNStory/Front

Religion
Foreign Missionaries Defy Ban during Olympics
Associated Press (via Google), August 21, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ja-R0Ux5dua90x8bStw8LCQsUC9QD92MQP580

State Security
Three Try to Break into Military Airport
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=492ee60f136eb110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Tibet
Troops Fire on Rally in Tibet, Says Dalai Lama
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=fbcde60f136eb110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related news:
Confusion over Tibetan Shooting Claims
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, August 22, 2008
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200808/s2343412.htm

Dalai Lama’s Words Misinterpreted, There Was No Massacre, Says Tibetan Leader
AsiaNews, August 21, 2008
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13032

XUAR
新疆喀什超过百名维吾尔人被拘 (Over 100 Uyghurs Arrested in Kashgar since August Unrest)
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xinjiang-08212008163939.html